Probabilistic Thinking of Elementary School Students in Solving Probability Tasks Based on Math Ability

摘要

Probabilistic thinking is very important in human life especially in responding to situation which possibly occured or situation containing uncertainty elements. It is necessary to develop students' probabilistic thinking since in elementary school by teaching probability. Based on mathematics curriculum in Indonesia, probability is firstly introduced to ninth grade students. Though, some research showed that low-grade students were successful in solving probability tasks, even in pre school. This study is aimed to explore students' probabilistic thinking of elementary school; high and low math ability in solving probability tasks. Qualitative approach was chosen to describe in depth related to students' probabilistic thinking. The results showed that high and low math ability students were difference in responding to 1 and 2 dimensional sample space tasks, and probability comparison tasks of drawing marker and contextual. Representation used by high and low math ability students were also difference in responding to contextual probability of an event task and probability comparison task of rotating spinner. This study is as reference to mathematics curriculum developers of elementary school in Indonesia. In this case to introduce probability material and teach probability through spinner, as media in learning.